MEASure Subsystem

Default Settings for MEASure?

With the MEASure? queries, you can select the function, range and resolution in one command. All other parameters are set to their default values (below).

Measurement Parameter	Default Setting
AC Input Filter (bandwidth)	20 Hz (medium filter)
Autozero	OFF if resolution setting results in NPLC < 1 ON if resolution setting results in NPLC ≥ 1
Range	AUTO (including voltage range for frequency and period measurements)
Samples per Trigger	1 sample
Trigger Count	1 trigger
Trigger Delay	Automatic delay
Trigger Source	Immediate
Trigger Slope	NEGative
Math Functions	Disabled. Other parameters are unchanged.
Per-function Null State	Disabled

Using the MEASure? Query

The following example configures DC voltage measurements, internally triggers the instrument to take a measurement, and reads the measurement. The default range (autorange) and resolution (10 PLC) are used for the measurement.

MEAS:VOLT:DC?

Typical Response: +4.23450000E-03

The following example configures the instrument for 2-wire resistance measurements, triggers the instrument to take a measurement, and reads the measurement. The 1 kΩ range is selected with 0.1 Ω resolution.

MEAS:RES? 1000,0.1

Typical Response: +3.27150000E+02

MEASure:CAPacitance? [{<range>|AUTO|MIN|MAX|DEF} [, {<resolution>|MIN|MAX|DEF}]]

Sets all measurement parameters and trigger parameters to their default values for capacitance measurements and immediately triggers a measurement. The results are sent directly to the instrument's output buffer.

Parameter	Typical Return
<range>: {1 nF|10 nF|100 nF|1 µF|10 µF|100 µF}. Default: AUTO.	(none)
<resolution>: optional and ignored; fixed at 4½ digits.
Configure capacitance measurements. Then make and read one measurement: MEAS:CAP? Typical Response:+3.01534021E-10

• You can let autoranging select the measurement range, or you can manually select a fixed range. Autoranging conveniently selects the range for each measurement based on the input signal. For fastest measurements, use manual ranging (autoranging may require additional time for range selection).
• Autoranging (AUTO or DEFault), will generate an error if you specify a <resolution> because the instrument cannot accurately resolve the integration time (especially if the input continuously changes). If your application requires autoranging, specify DEFault for the <resolution> or omit the <resolution> altogether.
• Autoranging goes down a range at less than 10% of range and up a range at greater than 120% of range. For capacitance measurements only, when autorange is off, the instrument does not report an overload for readings greater than 120% of range. Overload only occurs when the algorithm times out because the applied capacitance is too large for the algorithm to measure. If you apply a DC voltage or a short to the input terminals in capacitance measurement mode, the instrument reports an overload.
• If the input signal is greater than can be measured on the specified manual range, the instrument displays the word Overload on front panel and returns "9.9E37" from the remote interface.

MEASure:CONTinuity?

Sets all measurement parameters and trigger parameters to their default values for continuity test and immediately triggers a measurement. The results are sent directly to the instrument's output buffer.

Parameter	Typical Return
(none)	(none)
Configure the instrument for continuity measurements. Then make and read one measurement: MEAS:CONT? Typical Response: +1.32130000E-02

• The range and resolution are fixed at 1 kΩ for continuity tests (a 2-wire resistance measurement).
• The instrument beeps (if the beeper is enabled) for each measurement less than or equal to the continuity threshold (≤10 Ω), and the actual resistance measurement appears on the display.
• From 10 Ω to 1.2 kΩ, the instrument displays the actual resistance measurement with no beep. Above 1.2 kΩ, the instrument displays "OPEN" with no beep.
• The FETCh?, READ?, and MEASure:CONTinuity? queries return the measured resistance, regardless of its value.

MEASure:CURRent:{AC|DC}? [{<range>|AUTO|MIN|MAX|DEF} [, {<resolution>|MIN|MAX|DEF}]]

Sets all measurement parameters and trigger parameters to their default values for AC or DC current measurements and immediately triggers a measurement. The results are sent directly to the instrument's output buffer.

Parameter	Typical Return
<range>: {100 µA|1 mA|10 mA|100 mA|1 A|3 A|10 A}. Default: AUTO (autorange).	(none)
<resolution> (AC): optional and ignored; fixed at 6½ digits. <resolution> (DC): See Resolution Table or Range, Resolution and NPLC. The default is equivalent to 10 PLC. Specify <resolution> in the measurement's units (V, A, Hz, Ω, and so on).
Configure AC current measurements using the 1 A range. Then make and read one measurement: MEAS:CURR:AC? 1 Typical Response: +8.54430000E-01

• You can let autoranging select the measurement range, or you can manually select a fixed range. Autoranging conveniently selects the range for each measurement based on the input signal. For fastest measurements, use manual ranging (autoranging may require additional time for range selection).
• Autoranging (AUTO or DEFault), will generate an error if you specify a <resolution> because the instrument cannot accurately resolve the integration time (especially if the input continuously changes). If your application requires autoranging, specify DEFault for the <resolution> or omit the <resolution> altogether.
• Autoranging goes down a range at less than 10% of range and up a range at greater than 120% of range.
• If the input signal is greater than can be measured on the specified manual range, the instrument displays the word Overload on front panel and returns "9.9E37" from the remote interface.

MEASure:DIODe?

Sets all measurement parameters and trigger parameters to their default values for diode test measurements and immediately triggers a measurement. The results are sent directly to the instrument's output buffer.

Parameter	Typical Return
(none)	(none)
Configure, make, and read a default diode measurement: MEAS:DIOD? Typical Response:+1.32130000E-01

• The range and resolution are fixed for diode tests: the range is 1 VDC (with a 1 mA current source output).
• The voltage is displayed on the front panel if it is between 0 and 5.05 V. The instrument beeps when the signal transitions into the range between 0.3 and 0.8 V (unless beeper is disabled). If the signal exceeds 5.05 V, the front panel shows "OPEN", and the value returned from SCPI is 9.9E37.
• The FETCh?, READ?, and MEASure:DIODe? queries return the measured voltage, regardless of its value.

MEASure:{FREQuency|PERiod}? [{<range>|MIN|MAX|DEF} [, {<resolution>|MIN|MAX|DEF}]]

Sets all measurement parameters and trigger parameters to their default values for frequency or period measurements and immediately triggers a measurement. The results are sent directly to the instrument's output buffer.

Parameter	Typical Return
<range>: 3 Hz to 300 kHz. Default: 20 Hz. for FREQuency <range>: 3.33 µs to 333.33 ms. Default: 50 ms (PERiod).	(none)
<resolution>: See table below. Specify <resolution> in the measurement's units (V, A, Hz, Ω, and so on).
Configure frequency measurements using the default aperture. Then make and read one measurement: MEAS:FREQ? Typical Response:+1.32130000E+03

• The 1 mS aperture applies only to the 34465A and 34470A.
• The frequency or period <range> parameter is required only to specify the measurement resolution parameter. It is not necessary to send a new command for each new frequency or period to be measured. The <range> and <resolution> parameters affect the aperture (gate time) as follows:

Resolution (34460A/61A)	Resolution (34465A/70A)	Aperture
Not Applicable	100 ppm × <range> (MAXimum)	1 ms
100 ppm × <range> (MAXimum)	10 ppm × <range> (DEFault)	10 ms
10 ppm × <range> (DEFault)	1 ppm × <range>	100 ms
1 ppm × <range> (MINimum)	0.1 ppm × <range> (MINimum)	1 s

• The input signal for frequency or period measurements has an AC voltage component. By default, this command uses autorange to select the voltage range.
• With no signal applied, 0 is returned.

MEASure:{RESistance|FRESistance}? [{<range>|AUTO|MIN|MAX|DEF} [, {<resolution>|MIN|MAX|DEF}]]

Sets all measurement and trigger parameters to their default values for 4-wire resistance (FRESistance) or 2-wire (RESistance) measurements, and immediately triggers a measurement. The results are sent directly to the instrument's output buffer.

Parameter	Typical Return
<range>: 100 Ω, 1 kΩ, 10 kΩ, 100 kΩ, 1 MΩ, 10 MΩ, 100 MΩ, 1 GΩ, AUTO,or DEFault. Default: AUTO.	(none)
<resolution>: See Resolution Table or Range, Resolution and NPLC. The default is equivalent to 10 PLC. Specify <resolution> in the measurement's units (V, A, Hz, Ω, and so on).
Configure 4-wire resistance measurements using the 100 Ω range with default resolution. Then make and read one measurement: MEAS:FRES? 100 Typical Response:+8.54530000E+01

• The 1 GΩ range applies only to the 34465A and 34470A.
• You can let autoranging select the measurement range, or you can manually select a fixed range. Autoranging conveniently selects the range for each measurement based on the input signal. For fastest measurements, use manual ranging (autoranging may require additional time for range selection).
• Autoranging (AUTO or DEFault), will generate an error if you specify a <resolution> because the instrument cannot accurately resolve the integration time (especially if the input continuously changes). If your application requires autoranging, specify DEFault for the <resolution> or omit the <resolution> altogether.
• Autoranging goes down a range at less than 10% of range and up a range at greater than 120% of range.
• If the input signal is greater than can be measured on the specified manual range, the instrument displays the word Overload on front panel and returns "9.9E37" from the remote interface.

MEASure:TEMPerature? [{FRTD|RTD|FTHermistor|THERmistor|TCouple|DEFault} [, {<type>|DEFault} [,1 [, {<resolution>|MIN|MAX|DEF}]]]]

Sets all measurement parameters and trigger parameters to their default values for temperature measurements and immediately triggers a measurement. The results are sent directly to the instrument's output buffer.

Parameter	Typical Return
<probe_type>: {FRTD|RTD|FTHermistor|THERmistor|TCouple}. Default: FRTD.	(none)
<type>: 85 (only possible value for RTD/FRTD), 5000 (only possible value for THERmistor/FTHermistor), or E, J, K, N, R, T (TCouple).
<resolution>: See Resolution Table or Range, Resolution and NPLC. The default is equivalent to 10 PLC.
Configure a 4-wire RTD measurement with default resolution. Then make and read one measurement: MEAS:TEMP? FRTD,85 Typical Response:+2.12320000E+01

• Thermocouple measurements (TC) apply only to the 34465A and 34470A.
• For temperature measurements, the instrument internally selects the range; you cannot select the range to be used. The range ("1" is the only allowed value) is used only in conjunction with resolution to determine NPLC.
• The <resolution>parameter only determines the integration time; it does not specify the resolution of the temperature measurement. This parameter is optional; however, if you specify <resolution>, you must also specify "1" as the implied range parameter. For example: CONF:TEMP RTD,85,1,0.000001 selects the 10 PLC integration time on the 34461A.
• To change temperature units, use UNIT:TEMPerature.
• For RTD and thermistor measurements, the instrument autoranges to the correct range for the transducer resistance measurement. For thermocouple measurements, the 100 mV range is selected.
• For thermocouple measurements, the internal reference is selected. See SENSe:TEMPerature:TCouple:RJUNction:TYPE.
• If the input signal is greater than can be measured on the specified manual range, the instrument displays the word Overload on front panel and returns "9.9E37" from the remote interface.

MEASure[:VOLTage]:{AC|DC}? [{<range>|AUTO|MIN|MAX|DEF} [, {<resolution>|MIN|MAX|DEF}]]

Sets all measurement parameters and trigger parameters to their default values for AC or DC voltage measurements and immediately triggers a measurement. The results are sent directly to the instrument's output buffer.

The maximum range parameter (MAX) is 1000 V. However, the SAFETY LIMIT on the front and rear HI/LO input terminals is 750 VAC (rms). The rms voltage is waveform dependent. A sine wave is limited to 750 VAC (rms), but a 1000 Vpk square wave is safe. Connection to AC mains power is further limited to CAT II (300 V). See Safety and Regulatory Information for more information on the safety features and the safe operation of this instrument.

Parameter	Typical Return
<range>: 100 mV, 1 V, 10 V, 100 V, 1000 V, AUTO (default) or DEFault	(none)
<resolution> (AC): optional and ignored; fixed at 6½ digits. <resolution> (DC): See Resolution Table or Range, Resolution and NPLC. The default is equivalent to 10 PLC. Specify <resolution> in the measurement's units (V, A, Hz, Ω, and so on).
Configure DC voltage measurements using the 10 V range with 1 mV resolution.Then make and read one measurement: MEAS:VOLT:DC? 10,0.001 Typical Response:+8.54530000E+01

• You can let autoranging select the measurement range, or you can manually select a fixed range. Autoranging conveniently selects the range for each measurement based on the input signal. For fastest measurements, use manual ranging (autoranging may require additional time for range selection).
• Autoranging (AUTO or DEFault), will generate an error if you specify a <resolution> because the instrument cannot accurately resolve the integration time (especially if the input continuously changes). If your application requires autoranging, specify DEFault for the <resolution> or omit the <resolution> altogether.
• Autoranging goes down a range at less than 10% of range and up a range at greater than 120% of range.
• If the input signal is greater than can be measured on the specified manual range, the instrument displays the word Overload on front panel and returns "9.9E37" from the remote interface.

MEASure[:VOLTage][:DC]:RATio? [{<range>|AUTO|MIN|MAX|DEF} [, {<resolution>|MIN|MAX|DEF}]]

Sets all measurement parameters and trigger parameters to their default values for DC voltage ratio measurements and immediately triggers a measurement. The results are sent directly to the instrument's output buffer.

To calculate a ratio, the instrument measures a DC reference voltage applied to the Sense terminal and the DC signal voltage applied to the Input terminals. It then uses the formula:

     Ratio = DC signal voltage / DC reference voltage

Parameter	Typical Return
<range>: 100 mV, 1 V, 10 V, 100 V, 1000 V, AUTO (default) or DEFault	(none)
<resolution>: See Resolution Table or Range, Resolution and NPLC. The default is equivalent to 10 PLC.
Configure DC voltage ratio measurements using the 100 V range with 1 mV resolution. Then make and read one measurement: MEAS:VOLT:DC:RAT? 100,0.001 Typical Response:+4.27150000E+00

• The Sense terminals have a maximum measurable input of ±12 VDC. Autoranging is automatically selected for reference voltage measurements on the Sense terminals.
• The Input LO and Sense LO terminals must have a common reference and cannot have a voltage difference greater than ±2 V.
• The specified measurement range applies only to the signal connected to the Input terminals. The signal on the Input terminals can be any DC voltage up to 1,000 V.
• For the Input terminals, you can allow the instrument to select the measurement range by autoranging or you can select a fixed range using manual ranging. Autoranging decides which range to use for each measurement based on the input signal. For faster measurements, use manual ranging on each measurement (additional time is required for autoranging to select a range).
• Autoranging (AUTO or DEFault), will generate an error if you specify a <resolution> because the instrument cannot accurately resolve the integration time (especially if the input continuously changes). If your application requires autoranging, specify DEFault for the <resolution> or omit the <resolution> altogether.
• Autoranging goes down a range at less than 10% of range and up a range at greater than 120% of range.
• If the input signal is greater than can be measured on the specified manual range, the instrument displays the word Overload on front panel and returns "9.9E37" from the remote interface.